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Semper K9 Assistance Dogs is proud to welcome Echo as a Semper K9 service dog candidate. Echo comes to us from the Northern Virginia based animal rescue group Operation Paws for Homes. He is a pit bull terrier that is 8 weeks old. He was rescued with his litter mate by OPH Foster Laurie.

Echo is named in memory of USMC OEF/OIF Combat Veteran Sgt Alberto Mario “Echo” Echeverria. A purple heart recipient, Echo lost his battle with post traumatic stress earlier this year. He was a firearms instructor at MCRD San Diego and “enjoyed teaching the recruits” according this his family. They also stated that Echo would be honored to have a service dog named after him to assist veterans.

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Echo was nominated by American Legion Post 66 Jr Auxiliary members who selected Semper K9 as their charity of choice for 2015 & 2016. Echo was an active member of Disney-Bell Post 66 in Bowie, MD and Auxiliary President Debbie McMeans stated, “The Disney-Bell Unit 66 Auxiliary is proud to be a supporter of Semper K9 and we are grateful that Echo ‘s memory will go on in such a  meaningful way.” He was 3 days shy of his 30th birthday at his passing.

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Echo’s final resting place is at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgefield, PA.

 

Follow Echo’s progress on our social media sites:

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You can donate supplies to Echo and our other Semper K9 pups here: https://www.semperk9.org/donate/donate-supplies-2/

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